AMIC Conferences 2009 -2015

This was the official site for the Australian Meat Industry Council (AMIC) Conferences.
Content is from the site's 2009 -2015 archived pages.
For more information about AMIC go to their current website at www.amic.org.au/.

2015

The AMIC 2015 Meat Industry Conference was well supported by government and industry with registration attendance totaling around 320. All feedback received to-date has been very positive. Some of the details were:

AWARDS

The Maersk Distinguished Australian of the Year Award – Steve Martyn (National Director-Processing, Australian Meat Industry Council) for his 40 years of service to the meat industry, 17 of which have been with AMC/AMIC.

The Atron Australian Meat Industry Woman in Processing Leadership Award – This inaugural award was introduced to recognise the significant role women play in the meat processing sector. There were 9 finalists in the award reflecting the significant talent already active in the meat processing sector. The inaugural winner was Angelique Raspin, Group Quality Assurance Manager for Australian Lamb Company in Colac).

The Meat Processors Ltd/MLA Future Leaders Award –This award
seeks to identify the next generation of industry leaders within AMIC who have participated in building industry programs for the future. The winner was Paul Wallace, NH Foods Australia P/L and wins an all-expenses paid visit to a key export market to work with Meat & Livestock Australia on better understanding and refining MLA’s market development program in that region and bringing that knowledge back to the industry taskforce process in Australia.

The Intralox Excellence in Industry Award – presented to a supply chain partner who has delivered a sustained and strong contribution to the meat industry over an extended period of time. In respect of his pioneering spirit over the past 30 years the award went to Brian Carey from Food Processing Equipment.

The Special Industry Recognition Award – This award recognises people who have distinguished themselves as leaders and innovators over many years from outside of the processing sector. This year’s unanimous winner was Dr Peter Barnard, recognising his 29 years of service through the Australian Meat & Live‑stock Corporation and MLA.

Golf Tournament – Once again shipping legend Jim Fitzgerald co-ordinated the day. The winning team was Aaron Squires (Argus); Matthew Langer (Orora); Eric Boxma (Intralox) and James Wardle (Port of Brisbane). Former industry notable Don Ferguson (Smorgon & AMH) and John Runge (Kilcoy Pastoral) also played the tournament.

ABC Country Hour operated live from the Conference (Thur 17). Radio interviews included David Larkin, Steve Martyn, Ben Thomas (MLA), David McKinna (Principal at McKinna et al) and Roger Fletcher (Fletcher International). Beef Central and Fairfax Rural Media were also present and reported extensively from the Conference.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

AMIC has finalised permission from each of the speakers to have their papers posted on the AMIC website.

TRADE EXHIBITION The 27 exhibition booths were sold-out well in advance of the Conference with new entrants including: CST Wastewater Solutions, Castricum’s Meat Training Services, Matthews Australasia, Quantum Power Ltd, SMC Pneumatics, Kentmaster, FoodCap and new AMIC member Habasit Australia. Our thanks to all 27 exhibitors. The Trade Exhibition was the centre of most functions and activities including the Welcome Event and morning, lunch and afternoon teas. A full list of exhibitors and their details is on the webpage.

CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP

19 sponsors supported the AMIC Conference this year with the platinum sponsor being the Australian Meat Processor Corporation Ltd (AMPC). Hamburg Süd was a usual strong and dependable supporter which we appreciate greatly. Other main sponsors included Meat Processors Ltd, ANZ, MLA, Visy Board, Orora and Maersk Line. Other sponsors included Port of Brisbane, Wiley, Wirra Wirra, the Port of Philadelphia, Intralox, Energetics, Atron Enterprises, Food Processing Equipment (FPE), Marfret and the Agro Merchants Group. We thank all of our 19 sponsors for their great support for the AMIC Conference.

SESSIONS & PRESENTATIONS

APC Chairman’s Address – The APC Chairman, David Larkin, opened the Conference with the Chairman’s Address. A full copy of this document, sponsored by the Port of Philadelphia, is on the AMIC website.

AMIC’s Strength is its Members – Lachie Hart, as a member of the AMIC Conference Committee, presented a montage of 54 photos of AMIC members as the strength behind the organisation.

Kate Mills, former editor for Business Review Weekly for over a decade, gave a powerful presentation on the changing face of employment trends in Australia and how the workforce will change over the next 30 or 40 years and what implications this will have for the Australian meat processing sector.

Message from the Minister for Trade & Investment, The Hon Andrew Robb AO MP – Trade Minister Robb was unable to attend the Conference due to commitments that week in Canberra. He sent a strong message about trade and free trade agreements that was delivered to Conference delegates. A copy of that is attached.

A Message from the China Meat Association – Included in this session was a video message from Mr Li Shuilong, Executive President of the China Meat Association along with subtitles endorsing the MoU between our two organisations and the great opportunities ahead for both industries.

Martin Kneebone (Freshlogic) and David McKinna (McKinna et al) – These two presentations were particularly well received by attendees and the discussion around brands and the domestic and international retail market was intriguing and captivating.

Roger Horwood (Associate, Energetics) – Roger gave a very interesting discussion on energy costs and future technology changes, a must read for anyone who has a KPI in this sector of the meat industry.

Securing the Future – This was a wide ranging Q&A session involving 6 industry specialists on stage to answer a range of questions on the key issues impacting the future. Ben Thomas (Market Information Manager, MLA) gave a 10 minute presentation on the key factors that will influence both the beef and sheepmeat market going forward. Other panel participants included David Larkin, Chair of the Australian Processor Council; Dr Peter Barnard, MISP‑4 Economist and Consultant and former MLA General Manager; Roger Fletcher (Fletcher International); Michael Matthewson (Wiley) and David Lind (CEO of the AMPC). This session went for an hour but could have gone for much longer given the list of questions still to be asked.

CHARITY

AMIC supported two charities during the Conference. The first of these was Foodbank Australia and included the announcement of an inaugural sheepmeat program in support of Foodbank. It was launched by Roger Fletcher (Fletcher International) and Brian James (Thomas Foods International) and they invited all other sheepmeat processors to join them. The second charity was for the Jodi Lee Foundation and bowel cancer, a foundation passionately supported by Food Processing Equipment. AMIC committed a $300 donation to the Foundation out of Conference profits as starting point for Conference attendees to support the foundation.

SUMMARY

Thank you to everyone who attended the Conference and to our sponsors, exhibitors, session chairmen and speakers. We particularly would like to thank Lachlan Bowtell who did an excellent job as Master of Ceremonies both for the Conference program proper as well as the Gala Dinner. We hope the Conference was a quality presentation that reflected the professionalism of the organisation and the great industry we all work in. Any queries contact the Executive.

2013

2013 SESSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

Keynote Speaker (sponsored by Rabobank) – Brady Sidwell (OSI Hong Kong). Brady spoke on the opportunities and risks of the Chinese market suggesting that it was one of the best markets in terms of balancing carcase value but it will become increasingly important over time to know your partners and know your end-user and work with them to develop the market. Chinese consumers, he said, have a limited knowledge about beef but it has become an aspirational product because of its health status, especially around leanness. It is what he called “the Cadillac of the protein choices” in China. Australia, he said, already has a top position in China as a beef supplier, especially with the US and Brazil currently excluded from the market. Chinese consumers have always eaten local lean beef and most imported beef has been hard-frozen. The more recent trade in lean chilled beef has real potential and will be a sector that needs to be explored. Recent demand has highlighted the small and declining Chinese cattle herd. This will generate increased interest in imports of live breeding cattle and genetics in an effort to try and modernise and stabilise the local industry but it is unlikely to ever keep up with local demand.

Steve Kay / Melodie Johnson / Erin Currier (sponsored by Meltwater)
This was a session on the impact of the social media and how it has transformed communication with consumers. Steve Kay gave a detailed outline of how social media influenced the downfall of Lean Finely Textured Beef in the US. Meltwater News focused on how companies use real time media intelligence in Australia to address business issues in the meat industry. He made the cover story of Social Plus for the work he did promoting pet products in the US and especially for the success of a small dog bed store selling products online.

Grant Healy (sponsored by NAB Agribusiness)
Grant Healy focussed on the interaction with Chinese business contacts becoming central to market success for Australian businesses across the supply chain as exports of Australian beef to China continue to rise. Building relationships and strategic links will help facilitate trade into China, establish effective product distribution and also encourage capital investment in the Australian industry which are all opportunities that Chinese businesses are realising or are keen to understand how to get involved in.

Ben Nixon (sponsored by ANZ Bank)
Indonesia offers potential long-term market opportunity for the north Australian beef industry while Australia can provide food security and a chance at beef self-sufficiency for Indonesia. Ben’s presentation covered some detailed research work undertaken by the ANZ Bank examining the outlook for the Indonesian beef sector and how various decisions or industry changes will impact the Indonesian domestic herd and its ability to sustain the Indonesian population’s growing demand for beef. The report examined Indonesia’s quest to become self-sufficient in beef and sought to provide a detailed model under which relative self-sufficiency may be achieved.

an increased focus by consumers on value following the global financial crisis

consumer interest in food provenance (ie whether it is local) and consumers seeking more information more often

In contrast to the Buy Local strategy, another key message was that stakeholders should not assume that consumers will resist imported food products and particularly proteins if it represents value

online food shopping and its associated infrastructure will have a place in the future – convenience is an ever increasing influence over purchase intentions

the white table restaurant sector has seen a significant rationalisation over the past 2 years as operators have been pressured whether to improve or leave. Food service has been losing share to retail but that trend is likely to be reversed.

Fawaz Sankari (sponsored by Bank of Sydney)
Fawaz outlined recent developments and changes within the Bank of Sydney that will provide a key focus on building and supporting the red meat sector into the Middle East and North Africa.

CONFERENCE SUMMARY

Despite the unsettled trading environment, the AMIC 2013 Meat Industry Conference was well supported by government and industry with registration attendance totalling 340 and all feedback received to-date being very positive. Some of the details were:-

AWARDS

The Maersk Distinguished Australian of the Year
Jon Hayes (General Manager, Wodonga Abattoir).

AWX / MLA Future Leaders Award
This award seeks to identify the next generation of industry leaders within AMIC who will participate in building industry programs for the future. The winners were Bill Scott (GM Scott, Cootamundra) and Tim Sullivan (Sanger Australia).

Special Recognition Awards
This award recognises people who have distinguished themselves as leaders and innovators over many years, often silently and behind the scenes not always as an elected official of a Peak Council. In 2013, Mr Peter White, former CEO of AMH and Mr Richard Rains, former CEO of Sanger International.

Cryovac-AMIC Industry Award
This is an amazing opportunity for someone under 39 who receives $15,000 to travel and experience somewhere in the world the vacuum packaging marketplace of tomorrow. The winner was Ross Shorrock, Teys Australia.

CONFERENCE PAPERS

AMIC is finalising permission from each of the speakers to have their papers posted on the AMIC website. As soon as this process is complete we will advise all members and Conference attendees on where and how to obtain copies. Any queries after that point, contact the Executive.

TRADE EXHIBITION

The 29 booths were sold out well in advance of the Conference with new entrants this year including Euro Pumps Engineering, Insignia, BASF Australia, Castle Chemicals, Retracom Contracting, MOSCA, Transform Solutions, Labour Solutions TridentGLOBAL and Fujitsu New Zealand.

SESSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS

GALA DINNER (sponsored by Hamburg Süd, Mediterranean Shipping Co & MLA)
The Gala Dinner was attended by over 320 people. The evening focussed around a Gourmet Food cooking theme that helped promote great taste, good food and plenty of discussion. The food experience was lead by MLA’s Lachlan Bowtell who together with TV Meat the Butcher personality/star, Anthony Puharich, oversaw our own AMIC master chefs competing in a cook-off to make the “Lambada” Burger. Thanks to Anthony and Lachlan for a great bit of fun.

COLLECTION FOR CANCER COUNCIL QLD

AMIC this year, in association with the Cancer Council and following a great initiative and gesture by Tania Carey at Food Processing Equipment (FPE) organised a “High Tea” as a joint event with AMIC to raise funds for the Cancer Council. A number of other events at the Conference also served as staging points for further collections (i.e. Teddy Bear Chefs) – a total of over $7,300 being collected for cancer research.

SUMMARY

Thank you to everyone who attended and to our sponsors, exhibitors, session chairmen and speakers. We hope this was a quality presentation that reflected the professionalism of the organisation and the great industry we all work in. Any queries contact the Executive.

2011

The Australian Meat Industry Council’s (AMIC) 2011 Meat Industry Conference will be on the Gold Coast, Queensland, August 24-25 at the RACV Royal Pines Resort under the theme “Food Security – Today’s Challenge – Tomorrow’s Market”.AMIC 2011 – Conference Summary

Despite the difficult trading environment the AMIC 2011 Meat Industry Conference was well supported by Government and industry and all feedback received to-date remains very positive.
If you would like to read about specific details about who was awarded at the Conference, Conference Sponsors, Conference Exhibitors, and Summaries of Speaker Presentations please click here for detailed information.

SESSION 4
VINCENT LO - HEAD OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT FOR GREATER CHINA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK, BEIJING
“CHINA – THE NEW HORIZON – A PRESENTATION ON THE POLITICAL, CULTURAL & ECONOMIC CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES FACING BUSINESS IN CHINA”

2009

The Australian Meat Industry Council’s (AMIC) 2009 Meat Industry Conference will be on the Gold Coast, Queensland, September 24-25 at the Sheraton Mirage Resort Surfers Paradise, under the theme “An Industry in Transition”.

The AMIC Conferences of recent years have established themselves as the premier red meat industry conference experience and an essential part of the industry calendar. Speakers from North and South America, the EU, Asia and Australia have been invited to head the program.

The range of attendees will include representatives from a vast majority of meat processor companies in Australia. Most of the major shipping companies, freight forwarders, major banking institutions and ancillary industry providers and other industry stakeholders will also be present.

The rapid change in technology and the globalisation of the trade along with implications for market access over the next decade will be a focal point for the Conference for what is Australia’s largest agricultural enterprise.

Labor Senator for Western Australia Glenn Sterle has been invited to open the Conference. Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has also been invited to be our special guest at the Conference lunch. We are confident that the Conference will draw close to 300 senior meat industry executives from all over the world including Australia, North America, New Zealand and Asia.

Gala Dinner Details

Seating: The dinner is free seating when you register at the conference you will be able to place your name on a table list and that will be your seat for the dinner. If you are planning to create a table with other colleagues, please ensure you have your list and write them on our table list when you register on site. Please download the required files for the Black Tie Suit Hire from the side column on the right hand side of this page.